Joel Embiid will play in the third edition of NBA Africa Game

Joel Embiid will play in the third edition of NBA Africa Game

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will play for Team Africa in the third edition of the NBA Africa Game.

Embiid, who hails from Cameroon, was also scheduled to play last season but sat out due to injury. Hitting a career-high 63 games last season, the 24-year-old seems as durable as ever.

Embiid’s team includes a few playmakers, one of which is former teammate Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who was traded just a few weeks ago in the deal sending Carmelo Anthony to Atlanta.

Last season, Team Africa’s Victor Oladipo took home MVP honors. Now as arguably the best player on either team, it’s time for Embiid, a starter in the NBA’s 2018 All-Star Game, to step up to the plate.

This will be the third time in the past four offseasons this exhibition will be played, and in both the preceding games, Team World came out on top. That alone should motivate Embiid and his trash-talking persona.

Joel Embiid is the only player on his team to have reached an All-Star game in the past half a decade, and his only real help will come from Evan Fournier and Serge Ibaka.

Here’s a look at the rosters for both teams, courtesy of Sporting News:

Team Africa

Al-Farouq Aminu, Portland Trail Blazers

Bismack Biyombo, Charlotte Hornets

Luol Deng, Los Angeles Lakers

Cheick Diallo, New Orleans Pelicans

Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Evan Fournier, Orlando Magic

Serge Ibaka, Toronto Raptors

Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Oklahoma City Thunder

Ian Mahinmi, Washington Wizards

Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors

Team World

Harrison Barnes, Dallas Mavericks

John Collins, Atlanta Hawks

Danilo Gallinari, Los Angeles Clippers

Rudy Gay, San Antonio Spurs

JaVale McGee, Los Angeles Lakers

Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks

Dennis Smith Jr., Dallas Mavericks

Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat

Marvin Williams, Charlotte Hornets

A little offseason revival of the Embiid-Whiteside rivalry, anyone?

Embiid, who helped the Sixers reach 52 wins last season, certainly has the ability to will his team to victory. Averaging 22.9 points per game last season and working with renown trainer Drew Hanlen this offseason should give us a glimpse of the next level of Embiid’s game.